Q: Florida Politics

• The Post's politics blog has moved!

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  Posted: March 03, 2009, 12:04pm EST
  

• Ballard: Keep it brief

  Just another reminder to update your bookmarks and RSS feeds with our new political blog, Post On Politics, and to check out The Forum, a medium for operatives, consultants and former elected officials to weigh in on the issues of... [...]
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  Posted: March 03, 2009, 8:24am EST
  

• Update your bookmarks: New politics blog from the Post

  Today’s the first official day for Post On Politics, our new political blog, which replaces Q. The new blog should be easier to read from your mobile phones and also includes some new features, such as a blog ticker... [...]
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  Posted: March 02, 2009, 11:08am EST
  

• More questionable Crist contributions?

  View Larger Map A federal indictment released this week claims Gov. Charlie Crist received 10 illegal campaign contributions of $500 each from these 5 homes in Southern California in 2006. But campaign finance records show that Crist received a total... [...]
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  Posted: February 28, 2009, 12:09pm EST
  

• House tees up sales tax exemptions

  House Finance & Tax Council Chairwoman Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, sent this memo to committee members Friday afternoon announcing that 51 sales tax exemptions would be reviewed and possibly repealed. If all of the exemptions were repealed in the list... [...]
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  Posted: February 28, 2009, 11:36am EST
  

• Crist unaware of possible fundraising troubles

  Harry Sargeant, center, introduces Gov. Charlie Crist to King Abdullah of Jordan in 2007. (S.V. Date/Palm Beach Post) A Jordanian businessman with connections to a Palm Beach County entrepreneur and the Republican Party of Florida was indicted on Wednesday... [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 12:01pm EST
  

• A $500k war on tuition increase

  The plan to give the Florida Board of Governors more control over college tuition is one of Gov. Charlie Crist’s priorities this year and the bills are being shepherded through the capitol by Republican heavies Ken Pruitt and Will Weatherford.... [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 9:31am EST
  

• Scripps: Jeb's real legacy

  From the Palm Beach Post editorial board today: It’s a bad accident of history that Scripps Florida will open formally today in Jupiter without former Gov. Jeb Bush, because without Gov. Bush there would be no Scripps Florida. Gov.... [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2009, 9:21am EST
  

• New commish in 'about 2 weeks'

  Don’t hold your breath for that new Palm Beach County commissioner to replace scandal-tarnished Mary McCarty. McCarty’s old District 4 seat will remain vacant for “probably about two weeks” more as Gov. Charlie Crist’s office conducts background checks on four... [...]
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  Posted: February 25, 2009, 12:12pm EST
  

• The first 'Crist for Senate' commercial

  The Palm Beach Post editorial board this morning urges the legislature to “reject Crist’s selfish budget,” calling the governor’s spending proposal, “the first Charlie Crist for Senate in 2010 commercial.” At a time when Tallahassee needs to think years ahead,... [...]
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  Posted: February 25, 2009, 10:32am EST
  

• Locals react to Obama speech

  From Obama praise to Bush bashing to concern about tax hikes, the reactions are in from members of Palm Beach County’s congressional delegation after President Obama’s Tuesday night address to a joint session of Congress. U.S. Reps. Robert Wexler, D-Boca... [...]
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  Posted: February 25, 2009, 8:23am EST
  

• Top elections official cool to voting rights advocates suggestions

  Secretary of State Kurt Browning spent almost an hour and a half with voting rights advocates this afternoon - including representatives of the Washington, D.C.-based Advancement Project, the NAACP and the union representing state, county and municipal workers. But he... [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 5:01pm EST
  

• Handicapping Obama's 'State of the Economy'

  President Obama addresses Congress tonight at 9 p.m. He’s not calling it a State of the Union, but many expect to hear a “state of the economy.” Here’s what some of Florida’s political minds anticipate from the spech. Add your... [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 2:37pm EST
  

• Former Herald reporter starts state politics blog

  Former Miami Herald reporter Gary Fineout launched a new blog today, The Fine Print, which he says will offer “plain-spoken analysis” of state politics and policy. In his first post, he dissects Gov. Charlie Crist’s budget proposal, pointing out this... [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 10:10am EST
  

• GOP guv visits GOP HQ!!!

  With all the cheerleading Gov. Charlie Crist has been doing lately for Democratic President Barack Obama and the Dem-drafted $787 billion stimulus package, and with his nationally televised shout-out Sunday to Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler of Boca Raton, this... [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2009, 7:47am EST
  

• Florida's First Lady scores a seat next to Obama

  Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and his wife Carole, right, arrive at the White House to attend a dinner hosted by President Obama. (AP Photo) Gov. Charlie Crist hasn’t yet secured the state its share of education money from the federal... [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2009, 9:35pm EST
  

• Crist: Obama good leader for Republicans

  Gov. Charlie Crist this morning refused to offer a name when asked to pick the national leader of the Republican Party, instead offering his support to Democratic President Obama. “I don’t know if there is or is not at... [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2009, 11:52am EST
  

• House office building is home for Rooney

  Unable to find an affordable rental in the “extremely expensive” housing market around Washington, D.C., freshman U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, says he decided to buy a Gander Mountain cot and temporarily sleep in his Capitol Hill office. About 40... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 4:20pm EST
  

• More fees, less property taxes: Crist proposes $66.5 billion budget

  Gov. Charlie Crist would increase the state budget by about $1 billion, according to his recommendations for a $66.5 billion spending proposal released this afternoon. The plan includes about $120 million in fee increases, but also a host of property... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 2:42pm EST
  

• Roof mold causes Bullard heart problems

  Sen. Larcenia Bullard is recuperating at a hotel suite after suffering from heart and lung problems caused, she said, by a new roof on her Miami home. She said doctors have told her that mold from a new roof... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 1:11pm EST
  

• Dems rip Rooney for stimulus letter

  U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, voted against the Democrat-drafted $787 billion economic stimulus bill. But he and eight other Florida Republicans who voted against it signed a Thursday letter to U.S. Education Sec. Arne Duncan asking the feds not to... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 12:48pm EST
  

• Crist budget vs Reality

  While we await the latest budget recommendation from Gov. Charlie Crist, here’s a graph showing his previous two requests and where state spending plan eventually landed (click on the graph to get a better view). The average difference between... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 12:44pm EST
  

• Cretul fills 46th House committee

  Incoming House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, announced this morning which members would be included in his Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning. Cretul created the committee days after replacing Ray Sansom as leader of the Republican caucus. According... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:49am EST
  

• Crist heads for friendly confines of Washington

  GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, who has set some low expectations for his budget proposal expected later today, will escape the frustrated Republican leaders in Tallahassee this weekend and seek refuge among friendly Democratic faces in Washington D.C. Crist, pictured at... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:31am EST
  

• PBC targets stimulus for $35 million in local road projects

  From Post writer Paul Quinlan: “The list-making is just part of the bureaucratic scramble now under way to jump-start the nation’s economy by putting people back to work and repairing the national infrastructure with money from Washington. The rush... [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 9:11am EST
  

• Senate GOP leaders demand cap on Visit Florida salaries, end to bonuses

  Visit Florida execs could see their salaries plummet if the Senate majority leader gets his way. Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, wants Senate Transportation and Economic Development budget committee chairman Mike Fasano to cap salaries at Visit Florida... [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 6:23pm EST
  

• 10 days from session, Atwater & Cretul meet

  With the clock counting down to the start of the 2009 legislative session, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and incoming House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, met this afternoon for the first time in their respective legislative roles.... [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 5:27pm EST
  

• From watchdog to neutered cat

  From Palm Beach Post columnist Joel Engelhardt today: In the name of economic stimulus, the Legislature is about to do what it couldn’t do under eight years of Gov. Jeb Bush: Kill growth management. Oh, supporters will argue that Senate... [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 3:37pm EST
  

• Putnam: Too many questions about Sugar deal

  Saying the state “already has a poor track record managing what they own,” U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, said today that Gov. Charlie Crist’s deal to buy U.S. Sugar includes too much land and too many questions. Powered by Podbean.com... [...]
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  Posted: February 19, 2009, 1:21pm EST
  

• State helicopters to shuttle bio investors?

  State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, today suggested using the state’s helicopter fleet to shuttle rich investors from coast to coast and drum up interest in Florida’s bio-tech centers and research universities. “The top tier of venture capitalists are... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 7:16pm EST
  

• AWI outsourcing of unemployment call center may not create new jobs

  The agency in charge of putting jobless folks back to work needs more people to answer their phone calls. Today, it got permission to spend $6.2 million to hire a private vendor instead of adding to the 500 agency employees... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 6:34pm EST
  

• State pays to process gun permits in slumping economy

  Florida’s budget writers just approved spending $3.8 million more to process a backlog of more than 90,000 applications for concealed weapons permits in in the state. The money will be used to hire temporary workers. Florida Agriculture Commission Charles Bronson,... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 1:57pm EST
  

• Delray Beach roadbuilder joins biz leaders in quest for federal $$

  Delray Beach road builder Craig Elmore joined other business leaders in the Capitol this afternoon asking lawmakers to start spreading cash to shovel-ready projects to create more jobs. Elmore, vice president of Hardrives Inc., said he has laid off about... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 1:03pm EST
  

• Bill abolishing LIP council on hold

  A Senate committee postponed voting on a controversial bill that would do away with the LIP council, the panel that recommends how to distribute more than $1 billion a year to hospitals for charity care. Senate Health Care Regulation Committee... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 11:42am EST
  

• Crist meeting with PB County Commission candidates, seeks 'honesty, integrity'

  FORT LAUDERDALE — Gov. Charlie Crist says he’s looking for “honesty, integrity, intellect and a desire to serve the public” as he interviews four finalists this morning for a Palm Beach County commission vacancy. Crist just arrived at his office... [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2009, 10:35am EST
  

• Senate panel approves measure to axe public campaign financing

  A proposal giving voters the opportunity to do away with state public campaign financing made it through its first committee today after GOP senators did some serious bashing of President Barack Obama. Some Republicans on the Senate Ethics and Elections... [...]
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  Posted: February 17, 2009, 7:15pm EST
  

• Crist's final four for McCarty seat...

  Knowledgeable sources say there are four finalists for Gov. Charlie Crist’s appointment to replace corruption-besmirched Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty. They are former Boca Raton mayor Steven Abrams, Boca Raton Councilwoman Susan Haynie, Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Jose Rodriguez... [...]
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  Posted: February 17, 2009, 6:37pm EST
  

• Invested in Sugar's unemployment

  Despite his opposition to Gov. Charlie Crist’s deal to buy U.S. Sugar, Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, could benefit if the deal goes through and causes the estimated 10,000 job losses. “I own the unemployment office so I’m probably going to... [...]
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  Posted: February 17, 2009, 5:42pm EST
  

• Crist to do town hall in Broward

  Stimulus-loving, GOP-bucking Gov. Charlie Crist will hold a town-hall meeting Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale to let citizens voice their views as the upcoming legislative session approaches. The meeting at the Beach Community Center in the Galt Mile neighborhood is from... [...]
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  Posted: February 17, 2009, 9:45am EST
  

• Happy 83rd birthday to Eric Eikenberg

  Gov. Charlie Crist wished his chief of staff, Eric Eikenberg, above right, a happy 83rd 33rd birthday this morning. Powered by Podbean.com... [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2009, 2:12pm EST
  

• Audio: Crist implores schools chief to help secure stimulus cash

  Florida could reap $12.2 billion during the next three years from President Obama’s stimulus package, but 20 percent of that total could depend on whether the state can convince the federal government that state spending on education has not dropped... [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2009, 12:50pm EST
  

• Meek makes rounds in Tallahassee

  U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, is spending the day at the capital today as continues to launch his U.S. Senate campaign. This morning, he accepted an endorsement from SEIU. Tonight, he’s holding a meet-and-greet at at the Parks and Crump... [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2009, 11:32am EST
  

• Secret ballot for kin of ex-Klansman?

  Derek Black, the son of a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, wants the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee to vote by secret ballot when he applies for a spot on the approximately 120-member committee in April. Black says... [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2009, 8:19am EST
  

• How many jobs will be created?

  Story here.... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 4:24pm EST
  

• Former Senate attorney to investigate Sansom

  Stephan Kahn, the former Senate attorney, was hired today to investigate an ethics complaint against Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, according to announcement from House Speaker Pro Tempore Larry Cretul. Kahn, who left the Senate in 2007, will earn $300 per... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 4:03pm EST
  

• Husband and wife candidates

  Term-limited state Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-West Palm Beach, said she filed papers today to open a 2010 campaign for the Palm Beach County commission. Brandenburg’s husband, retired electrical engineer Pete Brandenburg, opened a campaign last month to succeed his wife... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 3:15pm EST
  

• Hasner pushes electric car incentives

  House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, announced today that he and Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, will push a bill that to create tax incentives for electric cars. According to the press release, the bill provides for *Sales tax... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 11:29am EST
  

• Thrifty GOP axes $18k Malkin gig

  Discovering that $250-a-plate tickets are a tough sell during a recession, the Palm Beach County Republican Party has scrubbed plans to have conservative columnist and blogger Michelle Malkin speak at the party’s Feb. 21 Lincoln Day fund-raising dinner. Malkin’s fee... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 10:33am EST
  

• Seminoles $100K/yr to tourism, pocket of $1.8 million

  Local tourism officials never asked the Seminoles to charge a bed “tax” at the tribe’s Hard Rock resort in Hollywood. They did, however, ask them to stop calling the fees a “tax;” the tribe doesn’t remit any of the collections... [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2009, 8:14am EST
  

• Crist and black leaders hold love-fest at the mansion

  Gov. Charlie Crist and black leaders held a mutual love-fest at minority issues roundtable at the governor’s mansion this morning. Crist, dubbed Florida’s “first black governor” by black Democrat Rep. Terry Fields of Jacksonville, after his 2008 election, anointed NAACP... [...]
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  Posted: February 12, 2009, 1:32pm EST